Depression Linked to Faster Onset of Chronic Physical Illnesses, Study Finds

Research shows adults with depression develop conditions like heart disease and diabetes 30% earlier than those without a history of the disorder.

A University of Edinburgh study of over 172,500 UK adults found that depression accelerates the development of long-term physical illnesses by 30%.
Participants with a history of depression developed an average of 0.2 additional chronic conditions annually compared to 0.16 for those without depression.
Common conditions linked to depression include osteoarthritis, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, with higher prevalence among those with depression.
Researchers emphasize the need for healthcare systems to adopt integrated approaches to treat both mental and physical health conditions holistically.
Risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and low physical activity may further contribute to the faster onset of chronic illnesses in individuals with depression.